Time for spring cleaning, already?
It’s officially spring which means it’s time for spring cleaning! It’s your favorite time of the year, right? If not, it should be. There’s nothing like a clean house where everything smells fresh and you can open your windows to let that spring breeze in. It can be considered therapeutic to some, even!
First, there are a couple of cleaning measures for us to take care of in your home: your annual air conditioner tune-up and possibly cleaning your air ducts (let us take a look to decide if it’s necessary or not because they don’t need a professional cleaning very often).
The above should only be done by professionals but the rest is for you to tackle!
Change your air conditioner’s filter and check it monthly, replacing when necessary. While this isn’t just a spring cleaning thing, it is necessary so your air conditioner will work properly…and everyone needs a reminder!
Open your windows (weather permitting) to air out your house of all of that stale winter air that’s built up over the past six or so months. You’ll be stirring up a lot of dust and dirt during your deep cleaning and who wants that trapped in your home when it can travel outside, instead? If you’re using chemical cleaners, this step is very important to help dilute the amount of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in the air.
- Side note: VOCs can be found in household cleaners, air fresheners, paint, and various other household products. Elevated amounts in the home can lead to cold and flu-like symptoms, including nausea, headaches, sore throats, and dizziness.
Clean everywhere that you can see…and all of the places that you can’t. Don’t forget to dust the tops of your fan blades (so dust won’t go flying when you turn it on!) and behind the books and knickknacks on your shelves. When was the last time you wiped down your walls? Walls are one of those areas that you never think of to clean but can really collect allergens if they’re never cleaned. Vacuum everywhere. This includes moving furniture to clean under it and thoroughly vacuuming all baseboards. Air returns/register covers love to collect dirt and pet fur, so those are also important to tackle.
The more dust you can remove from your home, the better your air quality will be. One way to cut down on the amount of allergens in the air in general is by installing a whole-home purification system. These devices are seriously awesome, especially for those who suffer from allergies and asthma.
Now, get out there with your mop and bucket and wage war on those dust bunnies!
